Prematurely Praised On Gay Rights, Queen Elizabeth II To Sign Anti-Discrimination Charter

Queen Elizabeth II Sunday will sign an historic anti-discrimination charter that is said to “signal” the crown’s support of LGBT rights, gender equality, and human rights throughout the British Commonwealth.

“We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds,” the charter states, although it does not specifically denote LGBT people.

“The ‘other grounds’ clause in the charter is intended to refer to sexuality, however specific references to gay and lesbian people were omitted due to some Commonwealth countries with anti-gay laws, reports the Daily Mail,” according to Pink News:

The Queen is expected to refer to rights which must “include everyone”, and insiders are noting the appearance as a nod to inclusivity.

A diplomatic source said: “The impact of this statement on gay and women’s rights should not be underestimated. Nothing this progressive has ever been approved by the United Nations. And it is most unusual for the Queen to request to sign documents in public, never mind call the cameras in.”

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace, said: “In this charter, the Queen is endorsing a decision taken by the Commonwealth.” But he added: “The Queen does not take a personal view on these issues. The Queen’s position is apolitical, as it is on all matters of this sort.”

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Homosexual acts are illegal in 41 of the 54 Commonwealth nations, and penalties include the death sentence in parts of Nigeria and Pakistan, 25 years in jail in Trinidad and Tobego, 20 years plus flogging in Malaysia and life imprisonment in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh and Guyana.

Only five Commonwealth countries recognise same-sex relationships: the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

The event comes just one year after the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration, during which the Speaker of the Commons referred to Queen Elizabeth II as “a kaleidoscope Queen of a kaleidoscope country.” Some felt she was being lectured on gay rights, Prime Minister David Cameron appeared vexed at the statement, but if anything, it was premature praise.

“Gay rights activists have criticised the Queen for not speaking out on the issue. They have complained that while she is patron of more than 600 charities, none involve gay rights,” the Daily Mail reports:

Homosexual acts are still illegal in 41 of the Commonwealth’s 54 nations,”

Penalties include the death sentence in parts of Nigeria and Pakistan; 25 years jail in Trinidad and Tobago; 20 years plus flogging in Malaysia; and life imprisonment in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh and Guyana.

Same-sex relationships are recognised in only five Commonwealth countries: UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

David Cameron suspended British aid to Malawi over the persecution of gay people – homosexual acts carry a 14-year jail term there – and has threatened to do the same to Uganda and Ghana.

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